1. Chapter 1 - Introduction to Environmental Science

2. the study of the HUMAN IMPACT
The environment is…
everything around us
Environmental Science is …
the study of the HUMAN IMPACT
on the environment
A major goal of ES is to….
understand and solve environmental problems
HOWEVER, ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS ARE USUALLY COMPLEX AND SOLUTIONS ARE NOT SIMPLE!!!

3. HOW DOES ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE DIFFER FROM ECOLOGY?
ES is an interdisciplinary science – it involves many other fields of study – including history, social sciences, earth science, ….
One important foundation of ES is Ecology – the study of living things, nonliving things the environment and their interactions
HOW DOES ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
DIFFER FROM ECOLOGY?
Environmental science is concerned with the
human impact on the environment

4. Our Environment Through Time
As Society has changed it’s impact on the environment has changed

5. Hunter-Gatherers
small groups of people that migrated from place to place
obtained food by collecting plants, hunting or scavenging
Impact on the environment… burned grasslands to maintain prairies FOR hunting, overhunting of some game animals, took plants from their native areas
For the most part
Hunter-gatherers
lived in Harmony
with their environment

6. Agricultural Revolution
was a time in human history when people practiced agriculture – this occurred all over the world
AGRICULTURE is the growing of plants and breeding of animals for human use

7. Effects of the Agricultural Revolution
Impact on the environment…
more pressure on local environments
habitats were destroyed for farmland
changed species from their wild ancestors – plants and animals were domesticated
Impact on society …
populations increased
people began to concentrate in small areas

8. Industrial Revolution (1760 to 1850)
was a time when animals, humans and water were replaced as the major energy sources by fossil fuels - it was a shift in energy sources
Industralization – the development of industry on an extensive scale
FOSSIL FUELS - include coal, oil, natural gas
FOSSIL FUELS – come from the remains of plants and animals

9. Effects of the Industrial Revolution
Impact on the environment….
Pollution first became a problem
More waste and trash to dispose of
Disease was a problem in many cities
Impact on society….
populations in urban areas grew
life improved… sanitation, nutrition, medicine,…
inventions – light bulb, telephone, computer
Much of Environmental Science is concerned with the problems associated with the Industrial Revolution

10. Spaceship Earth
Earth (is like a space ship) – it is unable to dispose of wastes or take on new supplies
energy from the sun enters and heat leaves, but
In regards to matter Earth is a CLOSED SYSTEM – it does not “take on” or “get rid of” matter

11. Resource Depletion Pollution Loss of Biodiversity
3 main categories of environmental problems :
Resource Depletion
Pollution
Loss of Biodiversity

12. Resources….
NATURAL RESOURCE
any natural material
used by humans
such as wood, water, soil,
air, plants, animals,….
Perpetual Resource – will continue forever – sun, wind, ... Renewable Resource – can be replaced relatively quickly by natural processes Nonrenewable Resource – form at a slower rate than the rate it is consumed – fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas)

13. Resource Depletion
a resource is depleted…when a large fraction of it has been used up
Copper Mine

14. Pollution….
any undesired change in the air, water, soil that adversely affects the health and survival of humans and other organisms

15. 2 main types of pollutants
BIODEGRADABLE – ORGANIC MATERIAL that can be broken down by natural processes
- Examples – food waste, sewage, leaves, newspaper, cotton clothing,…
NON(BIO)DEGRADABLE – INORGANIC MATERIAL that cannot be broken down by natural processes
- Examples – mercury, lead, most plastics, glass, synthetic clothing,…

16. Loss of Biodiversity
Biodiversity refers to the number and variety of species that live in an area
Extinction is a natural process , whereby all members of a species die
Mass extinction - large-scale extinction
Tasmanian tiger, extinct c Tasmania
Quagga, extinct c. 1883, South Africa

17. Threatened and Endangered Species
Threatened species – likely to become endangered
Endangered species – in danger of extinction
polar bears were recently
classified as “endangered”

18. “The Tragedy of the Commons” – an essay by Garrett Hardin
Garrett used the example of the “commons” in his essay …..
commons = land that belonged to all
everyone could use the “commons”
individuals could grave as many animals as they wanted on the “commons” – what happened?
the “commons” were eventually replaced by personal property – why?

19. “The Tragedy of the Commons”
Hardin – argued that main difficulty in solving environmental problems is the conflict btw. short-term interests of individuals and the long-term welfare of society THE POINT OF THE ESSAY….someone or some group has to take responsibility for maintaining a resource or the resource will be depleted or destroy
If no one takes responsibility for
cleaning up a beach, how will it look?

20. Economics and the Environment
Social pressures influence how we use resources…… SO DO economic pressures Law of Supply and Demand – the greater the demand for a limited supply of something, the more that thing is worth oil – as the price of oil continues to rise, what choices do we have?

21. Economics and the Environment
Cost-benefit Analysis – balances the cost of the action against the benefits one expects from it
POLLUTION CONTROL
How much will it cost to clean it up?
Is it worth it?

22. Economics and the Environment
Risk Assessment – how does the public perceive the risk of the environmental problem……if we think there is no risk or danger involved then why should we change
If we don’t think global warming is real then why should we worry?...
If we don’t think fossil fuels cause a problem then why should we worry?...

23. Risk Assessment – example - tattoos
areas of concern include ….tattoo removal, allergic reactions, keloid formation, infections, variety of pigments and diluting agents being used
more than 50 different pigments and shades are in use
many pigments used in tattoo inks are not approved for skin contact at all - some are industrial grade colors that are suitable for printers' ink or automobile paint
NEVERTHELESS, MANY INDIVIDUALS CHOOSE TO
UNDERGO TATTOOING IN ITS VARIOUS FORMS
CONSUMERS SHOULD DO A RISK ASSESSMENT
IN ORDER TO MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION

24. DEVELOPED COUNTRIES DEVELOPING COUNTRIES highly industralized
high incomes
high standards of living
Slower population growth
good medical care
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
less industralized
average income is low
standard of living is low
agriculture based economies
faster population growth
poorer medical care
These have different consumption patterns and
affect the environment in different ways

25. Western Europe, Australia
Developed Countries Versus Developing Countries
developed countries
are shown in blue
US, Canada, Japan,
Western Europe, Australia

26. Population and Consumption
Most environmental problems can be traced back to 2 root causes…… POPULATION PRESSURES and CONSUMPTION TRENDS

27. DEVELOPED NATIONS (like the UNITED STATES)
use about….
75% of the earth’s resources
but make up only about….
25% of the earth’s population

28. Why are these ecological footprints
the productive area of the Earth needed to support one person in a particular country
ECO. FTPRNT……US it is about 30 acres
(each individual requires about 30 acres to meet
his/her needs for food, goods and services)
ECO. FTPRT…… India it is about 2.5 acres
– so what does this mean?
Why are these ecological footprints
so different?

29. Sustainable World – a world in which humans can continue to exist indefinitely with a high standard of living and health “UTOPIA”